A 1999 Jeep sport utility vehicle was headed west on Lefthand Canyon Drive when the driver — identified only as an adult male — pulled across the center line and onto a shoulder on the opposite side of the road, according to the State Patrol. The driver attempted to pull back into the westbound lane just as a group of cyclists, headed east on the road, came around a slight bend.

All the cyclists were able to avoid the vehicle, but Stetina lost control in the process, causing him to fall, the State Patrol said.

"He swerved and braked so hard he went over the handlebars," said Cpl. Heather Cobler of the State Patrol. Although Stetina was wearing a helmet, Boulder County sheriff's officials indicated he suffered a head injury. He was flown to the hospital.

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Stetina won more than 200 domestic and international races from 1965-83. He held the Mount Washington Hill Climb record for 20 years. He was a member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic team and twice won the biggest stage race in the U.S. — the Red Zinger Classic — in 1979, and the renamed Coors Classic, in 1983, according to the Velo News.

The Daily Camera contributed to this report.

Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671, tmcghee@denverpost.com

Online blog. Stetina won more than 200 races in his cycling career denverpost.com/cycling

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